What is the difference from a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

Question

and what kind of schooling to I need for each? I am getting my Bachelors in Psychology but want to expand my studies...not sure what is the best route for me....time and money wise...I am 27 and married and have 2 kids....I don't want to be 40 and just starting my career...know what I mean?

So how much more schooling would I need to be a Psychologist? I am fine with that because I would like to work with children who have been abused and have experienced tramatic events in their lives....do I need like 3-4 m,ore years after bachelors?

Answer 1

A Psychiatrist is an MD, so you would have to go the route of 3 years of Med school, plus the Internship and Residency requirements, so you are talking, as you said, about another 6-10 years.

There are three main things you can do with your Psychology degree:
Psychologist-a Masters and you can work in a related field, although many go onto get a PhD, it is not necessary but many schools do not allow one to pusure a Masters unless there is an intent to pursue a doctorate.

Counseling-Guidance-which varies by state, in which you could get your Masters, and the obtain a license as a counselor for either school (48 credits-doable in 2-3 years) and community counseling (60 credits, including an internship, and I will have mine finished in 3 years). Counseling requires licensure, and hours of practice in some states before being able to enter private practice, but you can obtain a license within 2 years if you prepare the education track properly.
Contact the ACA-American Counseling Associaiton-go to their website, and you will see how the career track normally runs.
or feel free to email me....
Counseling is similar to Psychology, and if properly trained, one can do some assessments, but is mostly concerned with the "welnness model," which says that most people are emotionally healthy and do not mandate diagnosis, but still have obstacles in their personal, marital, family, group, employment environments et al. Subsatnce abuse, career guidance, family counseling, counseling of children and adolescents are all part and parcel of the counseling spectrum.

The third way to go is into education, where you can teach psychology, but that is a tougher job situation.

Answer 2

Ph.D./Psy.D. programs depending on your chosen specialty are highly competitive and can be between 5 and 7 years and may need a seperate APA accredited internship if not included within the program. Most colleges/universities have a requirement that you complete their program within an alloted time period, most being 8-10 years. If you do get into an Ph.D./Psy.D. program they usually offer some sort of financial aid or full tuition as long as you are going to a University/College full time and not a professional school such as MSPP or the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Medical School is actually shorter theoretically and has the added bonus of not having to write a doctoral dissertation. Most if not all do not have the ability and knowledge to accurately provide therapy and the good ones will admit it and advise you to see a psychologist.

Psychologists can actually take programs that allow them to prescribe medications under the supervision of nurse practicioners, its called Clinical Psychopharmacology and is a post doctoral path that not that many take.

Shortest path is getting a M.A. or M.S. but you have to work under a higher liscensed professional depending on the state and local laws.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Psychiatrists are also MD's and that means medical school and an intership at a hospital. I don't think you will be able to do therapy with a Bachelor's Psychology so if you want to do this you will need to go for your Masters and then apply for a license.

You can work with children who have been abused with a bachelor's in psychology. I work for a children's home in Texas and we have casemanagers with a bachelor's in psychology. They don't do counseling but their education helps them understand and help these kids.

Answer 4

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental disorders. Thus, one has to attend and complete medical school and then do an internship and residency in psychiatry. A psychologist usually has a Ph.D. or PsyD in psychology.

That is also why a psychiatrist can prescribe medications and a psychologist cannot.

Answer 5

a psychiatrist is a medical doctor. That means you go to medical school then specialize after med school in psychiatry. Usually psychiatrists will use drugs to correct chemical imbalances in the brain. A psychologist is somebody who has studied psychology and counsels based on theories learned -- a non drug approach to fixing problems.

Answer 6

The main difference is that Psychiatrists can prescribe medications and Psychologists can't. Here is a good example of how each would deal with depression in a patient (http://depression.about.com/cs/psychotherapy/f/psychologist.htm) .